Abstract: A ratcheting mechanism for a hand-held tool is provided. The mechanism includes a housing having a central opening and a pair of slots disposed on opposite sides of the opening. Each slot has an are arcuate or circular end portion opposite the central opening which circumscribes an are of greater than 180° in order to pivotally retain a generally circular stem of a pawl therein. Due to the presence of a pair of biasing members within the housing, each pawl is biased inwardly towards the central opening and into engagement with teeth located on the exterior of a gear rotatably disposed within the central opening. A cap rotatably connected to the housing over the pawls and the central opening is able to selectively disengage one of the pawls to allow the rotation of the gear within the central opening in a specified direction.

Abstract: A clutch assembly including an inner race, an outer race, and an engagement mechanism supported therebetween. The engagement mechanism includes a plurality of pockets and a corresponding plurality of pawls. Each pocket defines a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a ledge formed proximate the trailing edge and projecting toward the leading edge of the pocket. The pawls are moveably supported in a corresponding pocket between an engaged position that provides torque translation between the inner and outer races in one rotational direction and a disengaged position the interrupts torque translation between the inner and outer races in the one rotational direction. The ledge on each pocket acts to support the pawl so as to inhibit skewing as the pawls are moved between their engaged and disengaged positions.

Abstract: A bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly (10, 110, 210) including a drive member (12, 112, 212) that is rotatable about an axis (A) and a pair of driven members (14, 16; 114, 116; 214, 216) that are similarly rotatable about the axis of rotation. and are disposed on either side of the drive member (12, 112, 212). A first engagement mechanism (26, 126, 226) is supported between the confronting surfaces of the drive member (12, 112, 212) and one of the driven members (14, 114, 214). A second engagement mechanism (28, 128, 228) is supported between the confronting surfaces of the drive member (12, 112, 212) and the other driven member (16, 116, 216). A pair of actuators (32, 34; 132, 134; 232; 234) are associated with the first and second engagement mechanisms (26, 28; 126, 128; 226, 228). Each actuator is operable to move its associated engagement mechanism in an axial direction between the disengaged and engaged positions.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench is provided which includes a handle having a head on the handle, a rotatable gear disposed in the head and having ratchet teeth, and a pivotable pawl engaged with the gear to allow ratcheting rotation of the gear in a first direction and prevent ratcheting rotation of the gear in a second direction. An obstruction is engageable with a cam surface at the base of the pawl in order to prevent the pawl from self-reversing.

Abstract: A bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly (10, 110, 210) including a drive member (12, 112, 212) that is rotatable about an axis (A) and a pair of driven members (14, 16; 114, 116; 214, 216) that is similarly rotatable about the axis of rotation. The pair of driven members (14, 16; 114, 116; 214, 216) are disposed on either side of the drive member (12, 112, 212) such that each one of the pair of driven members is in side-by-side confronting relationship with the drive member. In addition, the clutch assembly includes first and second engagement mechanisms (26, 28; 126, 128; 226, 228). The first engagement mechanism (26, 126, 226) is supported between the confronting surfaces of the drive member (12, 112, 212) and one of the driven members (14, 114, 214). The second engagement mechanism (28, 128, 228) is supported between the confronting surfaces of the drive member (12, 112, 212) and the other driven member (16, 116, 216).

Abstract: A ratchet wrench includes a driving head having an inner peripheral gear, a wheel rotatably engaged in the driving head and having two openings formed in the outer peripheral portion. Two pawls are received in the openings of the wheel and each has a number of outer teeth for engaging with the inner peripheral gear of the driving head, and each has one end for being biased to engage into the end portions of the openings of the wheel by two springs, for greatly increasing the driving torque of the driving head to the wheel. The wheel has an engaging hole for receiving fasteners.

Abstract: A radial, bi-directional overrunning clutch is provided that supplies on-demand power to, for example, the front wheels of a vehicle, while allowing the front wheels to overspeed the rear wheels. The clutch comprises a driving member having a plurality of radially-outwardly-biased pawls, a reversing ring, a driven member having a plurality of notches, and a housing having a plurality of pawls. The pawls on the driving member engage outwardly concentric notches on the driven member, and are activated and deactivated by inner reversing cams of the reversing ring. The pawls in the housing engage notches in the outer surface of the reversing ring, which causes the reversing ring to move between a first position and second position relative to the driving member. The engagement of the housing pawls with the reversing ring notches is regulated by the driving member.

Abstract: A ratchet-type lever mechanism including two ratchet gear wheels and a bifurcated ratchet pawl member for selective meshed engagement with one of the two ratchet gear wheels. The bifurcated ratchet pawl member is simply bent from a plate material into such an offset configuration having a first toothed pawl portion and a second toothed pawl portion bent from that first one in an offset manner so that the two pawl portions are in correspondence with the respective two ratchet gear wheels. This ratchet-type lever mechanism has a simplified connection structure allowing both of the bifurcated ratchet member and an operating lever to be securely connected on an input shaft, whereby the input shaft is made short in length, thereby making thin a whole size of the lever mechanism. A restriction element for rotation of the bifurcated ratchet pawl member may also be mounted on that input shaft for that purpose.

Abstract: A ratchet tool includes a passage defined through the head of the tool and communicating with an interior of the head. A driving member is received in the head and is pivotally connected to a pawl which is engaged with a toothed member in the head. A first engaging member is located on the driving member and a bar movably extends through the passage. The bar has a second engaging member which is engaged with the first engaging member. The pawl is pivoted by pushing the bar.

Abstract: A method for the control of a bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly (10) disposed within a vehicle transmission, including the steps of initiating a drive function control routine (112) within an electronic control unit and sensing the commanded gear ratio within the transmission. The method steps further include determining whether a first gear function (132) should be initiated based on the commanded gear ratio and determining whether a second gear function (150) should be initiated based on the commanded gear ratio. The method also includes sensing whether the reverse engagement members (24B) and the forward engagement members (24A) of the bi-directional clutch (10) are engaged when neither the first gear function (132) nor the second gear function (150) are initiated.

Abstract: A ratcheting tool, such as a screwdriver, having a handle with gear and two pawls movable into selective driving engagement with the gear by movement of an actuator on the handle. A spring is anchored on the handle and extends into contact with the two pawls for urging the pawls into engagemnt with the gear.

Abstract: A ratchet screwdriver includes a drive shaft inserted into a shaft-receiving space of a shaft-mounting seat, a regulator sleeved rotatably around one end of the shaft-mounting seat to selectively push two pawls that are mounted in the shaft-receiving space, and a handle fixed on the shaft-mounting seat. The pawls selectively engage a ratchet wheel fixed on the drive shaft when the regulator is moved to first and second angular positions relative to the shaft-mounting seat.

Abstract: A wrench invention includes a handle having a cavity defined by a wall. A head extends from the handle and includes a compartment that is communicated with the cavity. A drive member is rotatably received in the compartment of the head and includes a plurality of teeth on an outer periphery thereof. A pawl is received in the cavity of the handle and engaged with the teeth of the drive member. The pawl is supported by two fixed rigid supporting areas when in an operative position for ratcheting operation.

Abstract: A ratchet-type lever mechanism including two ratchet gear wheels and a bifurcated ratchet pawl member for selective meshed engagement with one of the two ratchet gear wheels. The bifurcated ratchet pawl member is simply bent from a plate material into such an offset configuration having a first toothed pawl portion and a second toothed pawl portion bent from that first one in an offset manner so that the two pawl portions are in correspondence with the respective two ratchet gear wheels. This ratchet-type lever mechanism has a simplified connection structure allowing both of the bifurcated ratchet member and an operating lever to be securely connected on an input shaft, whereby the input shaft is made short in length, thereby making thin a whole size of the lever mechanism. A restriction element for rotation of the bifurcated ratchet pawl member may also be mounted on that input shaft for that purpose.

Abstract: A ratchet tool includes a head with a hole and a driving member is rotatably received in the hole. A plurality of teeth are defined in an inside of the hole and a plurality of notches are defined in an outer periphery of the driving member. Each notch has a pawl received therein which is engaged with the teeth. A spring ring is mounted to the pawls and positions and pushes the pawls in the notches.

Abstract: A ratchet includes a handle and a head, the head has an open receiving surface wherein an insert is disposed therein and of a size smaller than the open receiving surface. A portion of the open receiving surface includes a bearing surface against which the insert rotates, the insert configured for engaging a conventional head of bolt or the like. A movable stop is disposed within another portion of the open receiving surface adjacent the insert and the bearing surface in a manner such that when the insert is caused to rotate in one direction relative to the bearing surface the stop is frictionally drawn into lodging engagement with the insert and bearing surface to preclude further rotation of the insert and fixably secure relative position between the insert and the bearing surface whereby the rotation of the threaded member is effected and when the insert is caused to rotate in an opposite direction, the stop is driven into a dislodged position.

Abstract: A forward/backward switch protective structure for a remotely controllable car, including an output shaft having a differential section. Two gears are respectively rotatably disposed at two ends of the differential section. A seat body is fixedly disposed on the differential section and a shade body is fitted on the differential section. The shade body is formed with a differential engaging hole for the differential section to fit therethrough. A shade body is controlled by a shifting mechanism and movable along the differential section. The shade body is formed with an internal chamber for receiving therein the seat body. The chamber is formed with annular grooves. When the engaging sections of the shade body are respectively engaged with the stop sections of the gears, the annular grooves respectively correspond to the throw plates of the seat body. When outward centrifugally extended, the throw plates are inserted into the annular grooves to prevent the shade body from moving.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive acting on both sides for adjustment devices, including a rotationally mounted drive lever for producing a rotational movement that can be selectively effected in one direction of rotation or in the other direction of rotation, a drive wheel that can only be rotated when the drive lever is moved from a zero point position, at least a one-piece coupling element having two coupling areas for transmitting a torque to the drive wheel, in addition to a sliding block guide with areas for controlling the coupling element. The coupling element can be displaced radially and is tiltably mounted in a guide and coupled by both coupling areas in the zero point position of the drive lever to the drive wheel in an elastic manner so that the non-loaded coupling area is uncoupled from the drive wheel by the sliding block guide when the drive lever moves from the zero point position and remains uncoupled when the drive lever moves in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A ratchet structure of a screwdriver, including a seat body disposed on a handle of the screwdriver, a ratchet mechanism and a cap member. The seat body is formed with a central cavity through which a stem of the ratchet mechanism is fitted. Two sides of the cavity are formed with left and a right chambers which symmetrically extend for receiving therein a left and a right dogs of the ratchet mechanism. The seat body is formed with two projecting sections respectively corresponding to the left and right dogs for supporting the same. The cap member is formed with a projecting block corresponding to the left and right dogs. When turning the cap member, the projecting block pushes and deflects the left dog or the right dog to disengage from a toothed section of the stem so as to control the rotational direction of the stem driven by the seat body.

Abstract: A step-by-step ratchet mechanism has a mount, a hand lever carried on the mount and pivotable about an axis, and a ratchet provided with a toothed set wheel and with an output shaft rotatable about an axis of the ratchet in the mount. Two catches are provided, which a) are each hinged on the hand lever and are pivotal around an axis of the catch, b) are each provided with a toothed quadrant with several teeth that cooperates with the set wheel, c) have a supporting flank that neighbors an abutment of the mount and d) are provided with a spring pretensioning the two supporting flanks towards the abutment. Two mean position levers are carried on the mount and are each pivotal about an axis of the mean position levers, one mean position lever being assigned to each catch. The mean position levers have a stop flank.

Abstract: A clutch control for shifting a vehicle drive system as between automatic four-wheel drive, locked four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive. An engagement system for engaging drive and driven components of the drive system may include roller clutch engagement or pawl clutch engagement. The clutch system is provided with a coupling mechanism for coupling the engagement member to ground or to the driven member to thereby achieve automatic four-wheel drive and locked four-wheel drive, respectively. The engagement member is decoupled from both ground and the driven member to achieve two-wheel drive.

Abstract: A ratchet assembly includes a mounting body with an inner tubular hole, a rotating shaft with a ratchet wheel which is received in the tubular hole and which has right and left toothed portions, and right and left pawl members disposed in right and left chambers of the tubular hole and each having a pawl body which is movable to respectively engage or disengage the right and left toothed portions. An actuator is mounted on and is shifted relative to the mounting body between a normal position, where the actuator releases one pawl member to engage the respective toothed portion so as to turn the rotating shaft in a clockwise direction, and depresses the other pawl member to disengage the respective toothed portion, and a reverse position, where the actuator releases the other pawl member to engage the respective toothed portion so as to turn the rotating shaft in a counterclockwise direction.

Abstract: A ratchet screwdriver including a main body, two stop blocks, a switching block, a locating member, a recovery elastic piece. The main body is provided with an outer threaded portion having a hole for receiving a ratchet rod. A shell tube is fitted over the main body such that a switching ring is fitted over the shell tube. The switching ring is provided with a retaining groove for retaining a protruded block of the switching block. The shell tube and the switching ring are pressed against the main body by a pressing member having inner threads which are engaged with the outer threaded portion of the main body.

Abstract: A clutch assembly includes a driving member rotatable about a first axis; a pair of driven members, disposed on respective sides of the driving member for rotation about the first axis; and a pinion that simultaneously meshes with gear teeth defined on each driven member such that rotary power transmitted between the driven members through the pinion causes the driven members to rotate in opposite rotational directions. A coupling is disposed between the driving member and each driven member. Each coupling includes a strut that is selectively permitted to mechanically couple the driving member and a given driven member for rotation in one direction while permitting overrun in the other direction. Each coupling further includes a strut retainer that prevents the struts from mechanically coupling the driving member with the given driven member when the strut retainer assumes a predetermined rotational position with respect to the given driven member.

Abstract: A safety lock device including a clover mechanism mounted on a rotating shaft to be used with an unbalanced free-fall dog that precludes rotation of the rotating shaft upon rapid acceleration or excessive speed of the rotation of the shaft. The free-fall dog is pivotally mounted on a fulcrum upon which the free-fall dog may teeter in an unbalanced seesaw motion. At opposite ends of the fulcrum are a locking finger and an arm. The free-fall dog is unbalanced such that the arm contacts the clover mechanism as it rotates while the locking finger does not contact the clover mechanism at slow rotating speed. At a slow rotative speed, the arm is only slightly deflected. With great acceleration, the arm is deflected farther from the clover mechanism thereby causing the locking finger on the opposite side of the fulcrum to be pivoted into the clover mechanism.

Abstract: A step-by-step ratchet mechanism has a mount, a hand lever that is carried on the mount and is pivotal about an axis of the hand lever, and a ratchet that is provided with a toothed set wheel and with an output shaft that is rotatable about an axis of the ratchet in the mount. Two catches are provided, they a) are each hinged on the hand lever and are pivotal around an axis of the catch, b) are each provided with a gear cutting that cooperates with the set wheel, c) are provided with a supporting flank that neighbors an abutment of the mount and d) are provided with a first elastic means that resiliently pretensions the two supporting flanks towards the abutment. Each catch is further provided with e) a pin. The gear cutting is designed as a toothed quadrant with several teeth. Two mean position levers are carried on the mount and are each pivotal about an axis of the mean position levers, one mean position lever being assigned to each catch. The mean position levers are provided with a stop flank.

Abstract: A triple-function ratchet device includes a tubular body, a shaft which has a socket wrench and a ratchet bar rotatably disposed into the tubular body and retained by an annular ring, and a control mechanism disposed on the top of the tubular body. The control mechanism is characterized in a pair of pawls which are inserted into the tubular body and operated by a slide through a lever plate. When one of the pawls engages with the ratchet bar, the shaft rotates clockwise or counterclockwise, and when both the pawls engage with the ratchet bar, the shaft is checked without rotation.

Abstract: A two-way differential clutch is provided which can prevent the resilient ring for biasing a friction plate from expanding radially outwardly and getting out of the mounting position due to centrifugal force during high-speed rotation. Two retainers having different diameters are mounted between a rotary shaft and an input gear. The large-diameter retainer is fixed to the input gear. Sprags are mounted in pockets formed in the large-diameter retainer and the small-diameter retainer. A flange and a ring groove are formed at one end of the small-diameter retainer. A friction plate arranged on one side of the flange is pressed against the flange by a resilient ring mounted in the ring groove. A restricting portion for restricting the amount of radial expansion of the resilient ring is formed on the friction plate to prevent the resilient ring from radially expanding too much due to centrifugal force during high-speed rotation.

Abstract: A power cut/connect device is proposed which is axially compact and is usable in a limited space. The device includes a first input member coupled to a power shaft, an output member mounted coaxially with the first input member, a first two-way clutch provided between the first input member and the output member, a second input member coaxially mounted with the output member, a second two-way clutch provided between the output member and the second input member so as to be disposed coaxially with and around the first two-way clutch, and a control unit for controlling the first and second two-way clutches for interruption and connection of power.

Abstract: A planar overrunning coupling for transfer of torque from a driving member to a driven member in one direction and which permits freewheeling motion between the members upon a torque reversal, the coupling comprising coupling plates situated in close proximity with a strut retainer plate disposed between them, one plate being connected to the driving member and the other plate being connected to the driven member, each plate having strut recesses, a series of struts located in the recesses of one plate so that each strut may be pivoted, thereby allowing the struts to engage the companion recesses in the other coupling plate, the retainer having angularly spaced apertures that register with the struts to permit pivotal movement of the struts when the retainer plate is in one rotary position, the retainer plate, when it is in a second rotary position, preventing pivotal motion of the struts, thereby permitting freewheeling relative motion of the coupling plates.

Abstract: A ratchet screwdriver including a ratchet shifter having a dial seat which is concealed by a housing. The dial seat is provided with a bar body and a position confining hole for disposing a tension member. The dial seat is provided at the front end with an urging portion which is juts out of the main body. The main body is provided with a circular rotation member which is provided with a rotating slot corresponding in location to the urging portion of the dial seat. The circular rotation member is provided with a neck portion having an insertion protrusion for pivoting with the main body. The main body is provided in an insertion circular edge with a notch for locating the insertion protrusion.

Abstract: A ratchet spanner includes a spanner body with a head portion confined by a peripheral wall. Top and bottom flanges extend inwardly and radially from top and bottom ends of the peripheral wall. The top flange has a curved inner peripheral surface with an open-end slot. The bottom flange defines a bottom opening, and is formed with an inward flange extending from an inner peripheral surface thereof. An insert member is inserted into the head portion, and has a curved shoulder between upper and lower portions thereof. The upper portion of the insert member is formed with an open-ended slot. The curved shoulder abuts against the top flange of the head portion for preventing upward removal therefrom. A ratchet wheel is rotatably disposed in the head portion, and has an upper annular groove and a lower shoulder abutting against the inward flange of the head portion for preventing downward removal therefrom.

Abstract: An adjusting mechanism, in particular for seat adjusters in automotive vehicles, includes a drive member having a toothing and being movable in either of two mutually opposite directions. An actuating member is provided with two claws movably mounted on the actuating member such that, when the actuating member is moved out of a neutral position into one of two directions along the toothing of the drive member, one of the claws meshes with the toothing and the other claw is lifted away from the toothing by a guide contour. A switching member is movable along the toothing and is arranged to be entrained by the movement of the actuating member and to cancel the meshing engagement between the one claw and the toothing when the actuating member returns towards the neutral position.

Abstract: A bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly which can be used for example, in a powertrain design including a transfer case with front & rear outputs mechanically connected (no differential or in-line torque coupling), a primary axle of conventional design, and a secondary axle assembly with a unique differential assembly of which the bidirectional overrunning clutch assembly is a component thereof. The unique differential assembly utilizes two one-way bidirectional clutch assemblies which provide for axle shaft differentiation while turning, include speed-sensing limited-slip capability, and eliminate the necessity for an interaxle differential or in-line torque coupling device in the transfer case. Each clutch assembly includes two sets of struts. Each set of struts is used to transmit torque in one direction. A laterally sliding decoupler is utilized to control which set of struts is functional. The decoupler moves only when the one-way clutch rotating direction is reversed.